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APIs in Culture and Education

An API allows digital systems to exchange data or functions in a controlled way. This guide contains publicly documented examples for collections, heritage, publications, education and research, with direct links to the primary documentation.

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What is an API?

Think of an API as an agreed service desk between two systems. An application asks a specific question — for example, ‘give me the metadata for this object’ — and receives a predictable, machine-readable response. This avoids having to copy data manually every time.

In culture and education, this often involves collection data, images, publication metadata, research information, course offerings or events. An open API does not automatically mean that all content is free to reuse: copyright, licences, attribution, quotas and privacy rules still apply to each source.

Start with the application you want to build. Then check the documentation, format, access conditions and source rights before integrating an API.

APIs for culture and education

Search by name, provider or use. Use the filters to quickly see which source matches your question, technology and access model.

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Collections and heritage

8 entries

  • Europeana Europe

    Europeana API’s

    Active API key REST

    Search European heritage collections and retrieve records, entities, annotations and image references.

    Use
    A museum or researcher searches multiple European collections from one application.
    Access
    A free API key is required; each service has its own limits.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON · IIIF · SPARQL · OAI-PMH
    Why it matters
    Brings together material from Dutch and Belgian heritage institutions and makes collections comparable across national borders.
    View documentation Provider
    Verified 2026-07-31 Sources checked on 31 July 2026
  • Rijksmuseum Netherlands

    Rijksmuseum Data Services

    Active Open REST

    Search collection data and use Linked Art, EDM, OAI-PMH, LDES and IIIF for images and metadata.

    Use
    A teacher builds a lesson selection around artists, periods or object types with source references.
    Access
    The Search API and OAI-PMH can be used without a key.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON-LD · XML · IIIF · OAI-PMH
    Why it matters
    A rich Dutch example of open, machine-readable museum data with multiple standards for reuse.
  • Nationaal Archief Netherlands

    Nationaal Archief Open Data

    Active Open OAI-PMH

    Unlock inventories, scans and digital objects via OAI-PMH and linked open data.

    Use
    A research team collects descriptions of a person or theme from archival inventories.
    Access
    Metadata is open; usage rights may vary per collection or scan.
    Technology and format
    OAI-PMH · XML · RDF · SPARQL
    Why it matters
    Makes archive descriptions linkable to other sources and usable for research and digital presentation.
  • Coret Genealogie Netherlands

    Open Archieven API

    Active Open REST

    Search, compare and retrieve genealogical records from Dutch and Belgian archives.

    Use
    An archive project searches for people and links birth, marriage and death certificates.
    Access
    Open access with a limit of four requests per second per IP address.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON · XML · OAI-PMH · RDF
    Why it matters
    Connects dispersed archival sources through a consistent interface for family and local history research.
  • Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed Flanders/Belgium

    Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed Geozoekdiensten

    Active Open REST

    Search Flemish architectural, landscape and archaeological heritage by location and characteristics.

    Use
    A heritage route shows protected buildings and archaeological zones around the visitor.
    Access
    Publicly accessible free of charge.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON · WMS · WFS
    Why it matters
    Combines heritage descriptions with map data for public-facing routes, research and geographical context.
  • Wikimedia Foundation International

    Wikidata Query Service

    Active Open SPARQL

    Query an open knowledge graph with data about people, places, makers, works and concepts.

    Use
    A collection manager links makers to places of birth, professions and external databases.
    Access
    Open public service with fair-use and query limits.
    Technology and format
    SPARQL · JSON · CSV · RDF
    Why it matters
    Helps connect and enrich collection data with shared identifiers and multilingual context.
  • IIIF Consortium International

    IIIF API’s

    Active Open IIIF

    Open standards for high-resolution images, manifests, annotations and search.

    Use
    A researcher compares digitised manuscripts from multiple libraries in one viewer.
    Access
    The standards are open; endpoints and image rights vary per implementing institution.
    Technology and format
    IIIF · JSON-LD · beelden
    Why it matters
    Allows images from different institutions to be displayed side by side and annotated in the same viewer.
  • Getty Research Institute International

    Getty Vocabularies Linked Open Data

    Active Open SPARQL

    Use AAT, TGN and ULAN for art, architecture, place and person concepts.

    Use
    A collection management system links local material terms to the international AAT.
    Access
    Openly accessible; check the licence and attribution requirements before reuse.
    Technology and format
    SPARQL · RDF · JSON
    Why it matters
    Helps describe heritage metadata more clearly and link it to international terms and identifiers.

Libraries and publications

3 entries

  • KB, nationale bibliotheek Netherlands

    KB digitale onderzoeksdiensten

    Active Restricted anders

    A family of interfaces and datasets for Delpher, DBNL and historical publications, among others.

    Use
    A researcher analyzes word use in historical newspapers or Dutch-language literature.
    Access
    Access and application procedure vary per collection; this is not a uniform endpoint.
    Technology and format
    anders · XML · JSON · datasets
    Why it matters
    Supports digital humanities with large Dutch text and publication collections.
  • Google International

    Google Books API

    Active API key REST

    Find book metadata, covers, previews, and digital availability information.

    Use
    A reading list automatically completes ISBN, author, cover and preview link.
    Access
    Public data is available with a free key; personal functions require OAuth.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON
    Why it matters
    Provides broad coverage for catalogue enrichment and reading or literature applications.
  • Internet Archive International

    Internet Archive API’s

    Active Open REST

    Search and access books, audio, video, software and web archives.

    Use
    A media history project searches digitised recordings and retrieves descriptions.
    Access
    Public reads are open; uploading and editing require an account.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON · XML · metadata
    Why it matters
    Gives education and heritage projects access to a very broad collection of digitised material.

Education and research

1 entry

  • Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs Netherlands

    DUO Open Onderwijsdata

    Active Open REST

    Official data about institutions, courses, pupils, students, forecasts and funding.

    Use
    A study choice tool compares recognized training offers by region and education level.
    Access
    Many datasets are available via the CKAN/DataStore interface without a key.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON · CSV · TSV · XML
    Why it matters
    Provides an auditable basis for education maps, policy analysis and information on training provision.

Media, language and audience data

3 entries

  • publiq Flanders/Belgium

    UiTdatabank Search API

    Active OAuth REST

    Search and filter cultural and leisure activities from Flanders and Brussels.

    Use
    A culture website automatically shows activities in a municipality, period or discipline.
    Access
    Test access is free; client credentials and production activation must be requested.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON-LD
    Why it matters
    Gives cultural venues, cities and public-facing platforms one shared source of current event information.
  • Wikimedia Foundation International

    Wikimedia Commons Action API

    Active Open REST

    Find free media, categories, file metadata, and contributions on Wikimedia Commons.

    Use
    A class or exhibition page automatically retrieves rights information and image metadata.
    Access
    Reading is open; writing requires OAuth and appropriate user or bot permissions.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON · XML
    Why it matters
    Many heritage and education projects use Commons as an open image bank and publication channel.
  • WordPress/Openverse International

    Openverse API

    Active API key REST

    Search openly licensed images and audio from multiple sources, together with their licence information.

    Use
    A teacher searches images by subject and immediately checks the required attribution.
    Access
    Limited anonymous use; a free token gives wider access.
    Technology and format
    REST · JSON
    Why it matters
    Shortens the search for reusable media for lessons, publications and exhibitions.

How this directory was compiled

This first edition contains 15 examples linked to a primary documentation source as of 31 July 2026. The selection is not a popularity ranking. We choose services that offer concrete value for culture, heritage, media, education or research and that are documented clearly enough.

  • Each card distinguishes between the provider, documentation and practical use in the sector.
  • ‘Open’ describes access to the interface; it does not automatically permit reuse of all data.
  • Service families and open standards are identified as such; they are not central databases.
  • For production use, always check the current licence, limits and authentication requirements with the provider.

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